Friday, February 28, 2014

East Wall


I had some very nice turns out on the East Wall today in the Willy's Wide run out below the traverse. Superb coverage with 4+ inches of fluff on top. My idea of fun. During a couple of hour tour, I found good snow everywhere I went including International, Sundance, Slalom Slope, West Wall, Main Street to Rock Garden, MGD,  and Columbine/Larkspur. Snow fell in the morning and the sun popped out for a really nice afternoon. Looks like tomorrow morning could be pretty snowy.



































East Wall

I had some very nice turns out on the East Wall today in the Willy's Wide run out below the traverse. Superb coverage with 4+ inches of fluff on top. My idea of fun. During a couple of hour tour, I found good snow everywhere I went including International, Sundance, Slalom Slope, West Wall, Main Street to Rock Garden, MGD,  and Columbine/Larkspur. Snow fell in the morning and the sun popped out for a really nice afternoon. Looks like tomorrow morning could be pretty snowy.









Thursday, February 27, 2014

Basin Days
















Basin Days





Camera Shy


These very camera shy ladies enjoyed a day at The Basin.







Camera Shy

These very camera shy ladies enjoyed a day at The Basin.


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

East Wall Open

The East Wall first opened last Friday. Due to the nature of the area, it opens and closes depending on snow and weather conditions. Commonly just called The Wall, it is a great place to ski and ride. It is wide open and known for powder skiing. The Upper East Wall (North Poles and Willy's Wide) is open for hiking usually in the spring. This season there is tremendous cover out there and I am expecting a great, long East Wall season.

East Wall Open

The East Wall first opened last Friday. Due to the nature of the area, it opens and closes depending on snow and weather conditions. Commonly just called The Wall, it is a great place to ski and ride. It is wide open and known for powder skiing. The Upper East Wall (North Poles and Willy's Wide) is open for hiking usually in the spring. This season there is tremendous cover out there and I am expecting a great, long East Wall season.

Independence Mountain


Independence Mountain is the beautiful summit straight South of Montezuma Bowl. It lies almost directly between A-Basin and The Outback at Keystone. Skiing the lower portions of both Columbine and Larkspur there are stunning views of the mountain. One of my favorite skis at The Basin is coming down the lower portion of Larkspur (we call this portion West Meadow) with Independence staring me in the face. Stopping and looking back up hill at Long Chute and MGD is a pretty good view also.











Independence Mountain

Independence Mountain is the beautiful summit straight South of Montezuma Bowl. It lies almost directly between A-Basin and The Outback at Keystone. Skiing the lower portions of both Columbine and Larkspur there are stunning views of the mountain. One of my favorite skis at The Basin is coming down the lower portion of Larkspur (we call this portion West Meadow) with Independence staring me in the face. Stopping and looking back up hill at Long Chute and MGD is a pretty good view also.



Saturday, February 22, 2014

MGD


Friday morning was great skiing in MGD. The wind was kind there also. The views from Zuma Cornice are always good.  West from MGD, there has been exceptional skiing and riding in Schaufler, Jump, Gentling's Glade and Elephant's Trunk. Very nice.























MGD

Friday morning was great skiing in MGD. The wind was kind there also. The views from Zuma Cornice are always good.  West from MGD, there has been exceptional skiing and riding in Schaufler, Jump, Gentling's Glade and Elephant's Trunk. Very nice.






Friday, February 21, 2014

All White


What a great morning ski today. I rode Pali a few times, as well as Black Mountain Express, Lenawee Mountain and Zuma Lifts. Incredible coverage everywhere. Lenawee Parks is completely white. Pali Face is completely white. Norway is completely white. This most recent snow and wind really buffed the surface. Simply great snow everywhere. Many of those extra special lines are skiable and really fun. The sun has popped out and it is just a beautiful day.























All White

What a great morning ski today. I rode Pali a few times, as well as Black Mountain Express, Lenawee Mountain and Zuma Lifts. Incredible coverage everywhere. Lenawee Parks is completely white. Pali Face is completely white. Norway is completely white. This most recent snow and wind really buffed the surface. Simply great snow everywhere. Many of those extra special lines are skiable and really fun. The sun has popped out and it is just a beautiful day.






Thursday, February 20, 2014

Terrain Parks

Over the last couple months there have been a few questions about the park, specifically jumps. A-Basin is in a different position than many of the parks and ski areas around us. Obviously, snowmaking water available for park building during 2012-13 season really limited park building. The areas around us have a much greater capacity for park building than we do. As a result those areas have bigger parks and a much greater park following. Our intention is to provide a good park within our snowmaking means and one that people have a chance to have some fun riding and sliding. Different than other seasons, this year we chose to build out the parks at a different pace. We chose a pace that more closely matched our park usage. Typically, our park usage is very high the first couple of weeks of the season, is relatively light for several mid-season months, and picks up again late season. So we started with the little Banana Park, by Christmas we added the bigger High Divide Terrain Park, and more recently we added several bigger rail and box features in the Treeline Park. As we roll into spring and park usage increases, we plan on adding more features. We have not yet decided just what those features will be. Do we have a policy of "No Jump Building". Absolutely not. Simply, for now we have tried to build a park that matches usage and is within our snowmaking means. We are constantly keeping an eye on the parks and, like everything we do, we will try and make the best decisions that provide the best experiences for the most people. I look forward to hearing your comments and please be constructive.




Terrain Parks

Over the last couple months there have been a few questions about the park, specifically jumps. A-Basin is in a different position than many of the parks and ski areas around us. Obviously, snowmaking water available for park building during 2012-13 season really limited park building. The areas around us have a much greater capacity for park building than we do. As a result those areas have bigger parks and a much greater park following. Our intention is to provide a good park within our snowmaking means and one that people have a chance to have some fun riding and sliding. Different than other seasons, this year we chose to build out the parks at a different pace. We chose a pace that more closely matched our park usage. Typically, our park usage is very high the first couple of weeks of the season, is relatively light for several mid-season months, and picks up again late season. So we started with the little Banana Park, by Christmas we added the bigger High Divide Terrain Park, and more recently we added several bigger rail and box features in the Treeline Park. As we roll into spring and park usage increases, we plan on adding more features. We have not yet decided just what those features will be. Do we have a policy of "No Jump Building". Absolutely not. Simply, for now we have tried to build a park that matches usage and is within our snowmaking means. We are constantly keeping an eye on the parks and, like everything we do, we will try and make the best decisions that provide the best experiences for the most people. I look forward to hearing your comments and please be constructive.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

North Side - Buffed


I snuck out of the office this afternoon for a few spins on The North Side. That place is completely buffed. These winds were VERY KIND. If the lift would not have closed, I'd still be out there. Just flat, smooth, buffed, and perfect. All the forecasts (Joel at Opensnow, CAIC, CAIC point forecast, and NOAA) are indicating a decent storm tonight with new snowfall in the 4-9" range and W-NW wind in the 15-25 mph range. If that snow and wind falls on our currently buffed out North Side snow, the skiing in the morning will be worth calling in sick for. See you at Pali at 9.